When The Stars Align ✮ | JAEMJEN [ONGOING]

✮ Chapter 3: Dedication

Jeno feels a light tap on his shoulder, he turns his head at the person, eyes blinking slowly. "Yes?"

The person awkwardly stands there, scratching his nape, "uh, can I go to the bathroom?"

"Which floor?"

"Second. The third floor's bathroom is getting cleaned up." Jeno hums at that, nodding his head for approval.

"Don't take too long, just because our UCSP teacher isn't going to be here today, doesn't mean you can skip her class." He strictly warns him, "did you sign the attendance for her subject period?" Earning a frantic nod, he waves him off to head to the bathroom.

He hears a snort beside him, "at least he didn't think to use the first floor's boys bathroom, it stinks like vape and weed in there."

Jeno scrunches his nose at that comment, "one day those people will be sent to the guidance office and our school will go through another endless gossip from outsiders." He mutters, shaking his head in disappointment.

The boy beside him hums, "it hasn't even been a month since that gang fight incident."

"Tell me about it."

"Hey, do we have any other papers to pass today?" Jeno ponders in thought before replying with a nod.

"We have that Genmath homework from last week." Seeing the boy widening his eyes after hearing that, he rolls his eyes. "You didn't do it, did you?"

Getting a sheepish smile, a quiet chuckle escapes Jeno's lips. "Here, but don't make it too obvious. And make it quick before the others see."

"Thank you, Jen!"

Jeno only sighs at him, "you should've done that earlier this morning instead of playing basketball with the other HUMSS sections, Jisung." Lightly scolding his classmate who pouts in return.

"I just forgot about it, and Giselle didn't tell me when I arrived." He glances at the mentioned girl, who was busy listening to some music while scrolling through her phone. "Definitely her fault."

"Right..."

"It sure is her fault, because of that, I accepted Chenle's invite to play basketball at the open field!" Jisung exclaims a little bit too loudly.

He gets a strict shush! From the girl sitting in front of them, apparently she was taking a nap and soon got disturbed from the boys talking behind her.

"Shouldn't he be worrying about his presentation though?" Jeno raises a brow in curiosity.

Jisung shrugs while continuing to copy Jeno's answers, numbers a bit jumbled up but whatever, it's not like he's writing an essay. "Beats me, that kid somehow finds his way to relax on stressful things."

Shaking his head at him, Jeno just brushes him off at this point and turns to read his notes again. The boy who went to the bathroom soon came back as promised, flashing Jeno a proud smile.

✮

The second the bell rang, students went out to get some lunch, others stayed in their respective classrooms or buildings either having their own packed lunch or just not having the appetite.

Jisung was pulled by Chenle who ran from his building, all the way to the HUMSS building, and up to the 4th floor where his friend was.

That's some dedication right there, which doesn't fail to impress Jisung.

"Are you not going down to eat some lunch, Jen?" Giselle asks as she walks over to the blonde boy.

Jeno pursed his lips, "I don't know... I still have to collect the papers from our 21st Century activity..."

Giselle tilts her head to the side, "just tell the others to hand it to the Vice President," she suggested, seeing Jeno thinking about it, she grabs him by the forearm. "Come on, it'll be quick! We'll just grab some food at the nearest canteen from our building and we'll be back in no time."

"I suppose that works." Jeno finally gives in, he stands up and turns to Danielle. "Hey Dani, can you collect the papers? I'll just grab some lunch real quick."

Danielle nods with a friendly smile towards him, "sure! I'll tell the others." Giselle thanks their class Vice President before pulling Jeno along with her downstairs.

✮

"Well that took almost 10 minutes." Jeno mumbles while walking beside Giselle who didn't seemed too bothered at that fact.

"What do you expect with thousands of students in this school?" She giggles. "At least we went to the nearest canteen, instead of the one from across the field."

"Eh, you're right."

"Jeno!" A soft voice was heard, the blonde boy halts at the mention of his name and turns around to look at the person.

Ryo squeezes himself through the sea of students near the canteen, a juice box in his grip. Mumbling a few apologies as he rushes up to the older boy, a friend of his following suit.

"Hey, Ryo, what's up?" Jeno smiles at the sight of Renjun's little brother, the latter panting as sweat was dripping on his forehead.

"Where you going, Jeno?" The younger boy asks, his friend quietly drinking his own juice box while also staring at the blonde boy.

"Going back to my classroom, why?"

"Oh... Are you not joining Renjun for lunch?" Ryo asks, tilting his head and finally catching his breath.

Jeno shakes his head, glancing at Giselle who shrugs her shoulders. "Nope, I kinda have to help my classmates with something... Where is Renjun anyway?"

"They're eating at one of the tables near the stage, he asked me to go get you though so I looked around for you."

Jeno couldn't help but laugh at his dedication. Seriously, looking for him in this busy campus at lunch? That's some dedication right there, reminding him of Chenle earlier.

"Isn't Renjun an ICT student?" Giselle butts in to the conversation. Ryo nods in response, "then why didn't he just wait for Jeno down here? Our buildings are literally right next to each other." She deadpans.

Ryo glances at his friend who was too shy to speak, getting a small shrug, he replies, "I don't know, I think his classmate was in a rush to buy something from the other canteen and occupy the table beside the stage."

"They're probably watching some junior high students goofing around or something." Giselle jokingly comments. Realizing the two younger boys in front of her are junior high students. "No offense."

"None taken." Ryo smiles, his shy friend nods in agreement, already finished his juice box a moment ago. "Should I just tell Renjun you're busy, then?"

Jeno nods, patting Ryo's soft hair. "Maybe next time, I just have some stuff to do." He answered. "And don't waste your energy to deliver my message, take your time and fill your stomach, yeah?"

Blushing in embarrassment, Ryo obediently nods. "Okay, thanks Jeno! I'll see you later!"

Grabbing his friend's hand, he ushers, "come on, Sakuya!" Running off with Sakuya trailing behind him.

Jeno and Giselle laugh at the sight before walking back up to the 4th floor and finish their lunch. Danielle, as promised, collected the activity answered sheets and passed it to Jeno once he entered the classroom.